LLF President Dona Crawford with this summer’s cohort of high school STEM interns

Last year, LLF partnered with LLNL and the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District (LVJUSD) to launch a High School Summer STEM Internship Program, providing local students an opportunity to explore STEM careers through hands-on science and engineering projects. Thanks to generous donors, this summer LLF was able to expand the program (from six interns in 2018) to 12 students from Livermore’s three high schools (Del Valle, Granada, and Livermore). Under the guidance of Lab staff mentors, students completed four-week internships in the Computing, Engineering, and Physical & Life Sciences Directorates, collaborating on research teams, touring Lab facilities, and presenting their work at LLNL’s annual poster symposium.

LLF invited the students and their families, along with Lab staff and Livermore community leaders, to celebrate the interns’ accomplishments at a recognition ceremony August 8 in LLNL’s Advanced Manufacturing Lab. Following remarks by special guests Mayor John Marchand and Superintendent Kelly Bowers, LLF President Dona Crawford presented $1,000 scholarships to each student in recognition of their hard work.

Click here to see more photos at LLNL's Flickr page
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When asked to describe the overall impact this internship had on them, students noted:

“It was an interesting experience being able to work inside the parameters of the lab. It helped me to communicate with other students and employees so that I was able to learn how they progressed from high school and what choices they made when they were my age.”
“The internship helped me more clearly define my future plans. It was more than what I expected in terms of the knowledge I gained and the work experience in a professional lab setting.”
"It has made me feel more confident with my knowledge and overall hope for my future career.”
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On September 24, LLNL Director Bill Goldstein recognized the High School Internship team with a 2019 Diversity & Inclusion Award for championing an inclusive pipeline by creating a high school internship program to engage and provide opportunity to local underserved students with high potential.

Terri DeLima, supervisor/operations manager for the Center of Micro and Nanotechnology in the Materials Engineering Division, has worked at the Laboratory for 28 years. She and others started the program to provide students with an internship opportunity with mentors that could make a difference in their lives. “The students inspire me,” DeLima said. “I enjoy watching them get excited, inspired and show all their hard work in their posters. It is a joy to see them beaming with pride, especially the ones who lack confidence or have had a hard life. At the end of the program, they bloom and can see the possibilities for their futures. Last year’s students went on to show their posters in science fairs and last we heard, are going to college.”

Pictured below: Terri DeLima, Anna Belle, Brian Giera, Monica Moya, Jeanie Pebbles, Clint Frye, Sarah Harrison, Andrea Torres, Caitlyn Cook, Allison Yorita, Catherine Reinhardt, Javier Alvarado, Andrew, Pascall, Julie Mancini, Melanee Scarborough, Alida Bevill and Susan Lowder.

The Foundation is especially grateful to all of the LLNL supervisors, mentors, and staff who dedicated their time and support to this year’s program. It wouldn’t have been possible without them!

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  1. Pingback: Fall 2019 Newsletter – Livermore Lab Foundation

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